Depicting ethnic culture with wood grain

Visiting the Au Lac wood carving workshop of artisan Tran Thu, it is easy to see the image of him being careful and meticulous with each block of wood. From his talented hands, works bearing the mark of national history and culture gradually appear. He gradually explores, learns and hones his skills through practical experiences. The more he learns, the more he is fascinated by the vitality of wood - a material that is both rustic and flexible, bearing the shape of national memories.

Growing up in the cultural cradle of Quang Nam - a land rich in historical sediments, he nurtured a special passion for Vietnamese cultural values. "I did not choose wood carving to make tables and chairs like in the beginning, but wanted wood to be the material to tell stories. Wood has soul, if you understand it, it will help you say what you want to say," Mr. Thu shared.

Meritorious Artisan Tran Thu instructs students in wood carving techniques. Photo provided by the character

Inspired by the nature around the countryside and Vietnamese legends and stories, he has created unique works, all of which are on display at the Au Lac Cultural Tourism Area. Under his hands, works such as “Autumn River and Ngoc Mountain Reliefs”, the “Sacred Soul of Mountains and Rivers” spiritual products, the “Shen Nong” statue set and the Vietnamese identity are not only artistic but also a cultural message, the voice of the times expressed in wood, with the passion and heart of the artisan.

Sculptures depicting farmers, national heroes or ancient Vietnamese patterns all carry the breath of a historical period. Artisan Tran Thu shared: “What I love most is depicting Vietnamese legends and history. That is a vast area of ​​life that traditional sculpture has not yet fully exploited. Many cultural values ​​are gradually being forgotten, while wood is a very familiar material for Vietnamese people to tell those stories.”

The teacher silently sowed the seeds of the profession

Not only a craftsman, artisan Tran Thu is also a devoted teacher, silently nurturing the next generation. Over the past 30 years, he has passed on his craft to 106 students, of whom 47 are still pursuing the profession. He shared: “Teaching a profession is to preserve the profession, but first and foremost, it is to teach people. Being an artisan requires not only good skills but also professional ethics and the national spirit in each product.”

In the eyes of his students, he is a strict but approachable teacher, inspiring them with his own passion and perseverance. Throughout his teaching career, he always emphasizes the importance of preserving the core of national culture in each product.

Notably, his son, Mr. Tran Duy (28 years old), has inherited and developed the profession in a modern direction. Although he grew up in the digital age, he still chose to follow his father's footsteps in his own way. He built a YouTube channel, combining modern animated sculptures with traditional sculpture styles.

“I want the sculptures to not just stay in the wood workshop, but to step out into life and get closer to the younger generation. When traditional art knows how to adapt and spread, that is the way for wood carving to live forever,” said Tran Duy.

Meritorious Artisan Tran Thu introduces visitors and cultural researchers to the sculpture exhibition space at the Au Lac wood workshop. Photo provided by the character

Not only a sculpture workshop, Au Lac is gradually becoming a unique art space, contributing to the preservation and promotion of wood carving. During the journey to explore Hoi An - Da Nang, many domestic and foreign tourist groups choose to visit the workshop to visit, experience the process of creating a wood sculpture and listen to historical stories "recorded" with carving knives and lines.

This place also regularly organizes tutorials for students and those who love the profession to visit and experience, helping them better understand the art of wood carving as well as the traditional cultural values ​​of Vietnam. The tutorials here are not simply about learning the craft but also a journey to discover Vietnamese identity. “I always encourage students to exploit topics from local culture and national history. Preservation is not enough, we must be creative to live with the times,” emphasized artisan Tran Thu.

In particular, the “Thu River-Ngoc Mountain” tour initiated by him has attracted many groups of visitors, from researchers, students to culturalists. “Each work is a page of history, each carving is a folk song. I call it writing folk songs with wood,” he shared.

The efforts of artisan Tran Thu are highly appreciated by experts. Mr. Nguyen Minh Hung, teacher, poet, literary critic shared: “In the sketches of artisan Tran Thu, we see not simply wooden statues, but the creativity, the message that only artisan Tran Thu or those who are passionate about philosophy, have a deep understanding of national culture can create such works”.

“Au Lac - Writing folk songs with wood” is the brand and slogan, expressing the entire Vietnamese spirit in each work here. Wood here is not only a material but also a means of conveying the national soul, the philosophy of life, and the passion of many generations of artisans.

Spreading traditional values ​​in a new way

At the age of 53, artisan Tran Thu is still struggling to find ways to prevent folk art from falling into oblivion. Although steadfast in traditional values, artisan Tran Thu is constantly innovating to keep up with modern trends. He has applied technology to the production process, creating contemporary works to meet customer tastes.

In particular, his art works do not stop at statues or reliefs but also extend to applied products such as interior decorations and souvenirs. Each of his products carries Vietnamese identity, from materials to images.

During 30 years of diligent creativity, the talent and dedication of artisan Tran Thu have been affirmed through a series of awards: The works "Reflection", "Prayer", "Innocence", "Chua Cau Hoi An" won 4 awards of the Essence of Vietnamese Culture at Hue Festival in 2004; second prize in the Central Highlands - Central Vietnam Tourism Product Competition in Quang Nam in 2006; third prize in the Vietnam Handicraft Product Competition in Hanoi in 2008; second prize in the Design and Production Competition of Tourism Products and Gifts for APEC Tourism in Da Nang in 2017; consolation prize in the National Applied Fine Arts Competition in 2019; second prize for the "Shen Nong" statue set at the Vietnam Handicraft Product Competition in 2022...

In addition, many of his products are also recognized as OCOP products such as: "Nhat Nguyet Lamp" (3 stars, 2019), "Thon Nu" lamp set (4 stars, 2020), "Hon Than Nu" lamp set (4 stars, 2021), "Than Nong" statue set (3 stars, 2023)... Many other works such as "Cay-Dang-Ngot-Bui" won the Quang Nam A prize in 2016; "Menh vong noi nho" and "Than Nong" statue set were also honored to win the award for Typical Rural Industrial Products at the regional level.

Not stopping there, he also actively connects with schools, museums, and educational organizations to bring wood carving into extracurricular activities and cultural teaching. “If it is only displayed, the wood carving profession will fade away. Students must touch the wood and hold the chisel to see the cultural value contained in it,” said artisan Tran Thu.

The road ahead is still long, but with his passion and love for national culture, he has been affirming his position as a great teacher of the traditional wood carving craft. The “wooden folk songs” that he diligently carves every day will continue to resonate, serving as an inspiring message about Vietnamese identity for future generations.

In particular, with his vision and community responsibility, artisan Tran Thu has built a cultural tourism area right in the space of the Au Lac wood carving workshop. Here, visitors can both admire and experience the actual production with the artisans, listening to the national cultural stories conveyed through each carving.

Artisan Tran Thu not only passes on and preserves his craft, but also breathes into it the national spirit, creating works that tell stories and move people's hearts. For him, each work is a meticulously carved block of wood, a part of national culture, contributing to preserving and spreading Vietnamese identity through each carved line. That journey is still continuing, like the steady chisel sound that resounds every morning in the carpentry workshop in the heart of peaceful Quang Nam.

THU HUONG

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-16/nguoi-thay-cua-lang-nghe-go-au-lac-828204